NON-Surgeon Reviews

I'm not sure exactly what he meant about the roux limb either. Keep in mind that with a true DS, we have a RNY set up, with RNY being a surgical term that is not exclusive to gastric bypass. Part of the confusion is that the lay portion of the bariatric surgery community, meaning us patients, has taken to referring to gastric bypass as "RNY", when it's really a more general term. So if he did a true DS, like you insisted and like he says he did, you have a RNY with a roux limb, it's but it's not the same as the roux limb you had before. Confused yet?

Bottom line, you need that operative report. I understand about being afraid to look at the report for fear of having something you don't want and being stuck with it. But the reality is that whatever you have is what you have regardless of whether you read the report of not. And in her usual fashion, Spiky Bugger has spelled out one of the realities of having complex medical care and needing to be your own best, sometimes only advocate - whether it's your nature or not, now is the time to become assertive and insist on the care and the records to which you are entitled. You did a great job on the care, by comparison getting the records should be a piece of cake. Doesn't matter who the surgeon was (and I do know!) or what his bedside manner is like. Doesn't matter whether or not he likes you, or you like him. Get those records!

PS If I had to guess, my guess would be that he really did do a DS for you and not a SADI. Whatever complaints people have had about him, it hasn't been about dishonesty. I don't think he would tell you he did a DS unless that's what he did.

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Sorry I have not replied. . I have been away from the boards because I was struggling and people were "being mean" and I just couldn't take it on top if already struggling.
I still have not got the courage up to get my report from the hospital. . I like the idea of using my pcp to get it for free and then get a copy from them .. will have to see if they will do that.
Who ever posted that they think if he says he did it than he did and that they don't think he would lie thanks. That makes me feel a little better.

Sorry I have not replied. . I have been away from the boards because I was struggling and people were "being mean" and I just couldn't take it on top if already struggling.
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If someone was "mean" to you, it was not on here. I just reviewed your history and the replies.

I understand that you are struggling and feeling emotionally fragile. I hope that as you heal further, you will be able to interact more from your "rational" side and less from that fragile place. You are doing very well and you just need to keep on marching. More fluids, keep on going.

If someone was "mean" to you, it was not on here. I just reviewed your history and the replies.

I understand that you are struggling and feeling emotionally fragile. I hope that as you heal further, you will be able to interact more from your "rational" side and less from that fragile place. You are doing very well and you just need to keep on marching. More fluids, keep on going.

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No I was not talking about here which is why this place is the only place I have started posting in again.

No I was not talking about here which is why this place is the only place I have started posting in again.

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Okay, I'm glad to hear that. Be aware that some people are going to be very blunt with you and I am one of them. It is up to you how you respond.

My goal is your safety and success. I have no interest in anything else. To that end, I'm going to be very straightforward and factual. If I think you're doing something stupid, I'm going to tell you. If you try to dictate to me how I should respond to your questions, I'm going to get confrontational.

I gave you a pass on that behavior once, on your other thread. It will not happen again, and it's one more than almost everyone gets from me. You are responsible for your own feelings and for what you get out of your internet interactions.

You have been told what you need to do about your surgical report. You know perfectly well that you need to stay off the scale. It is time for you to pull up your bootstraps, take a very deep breath, and forward-march. There's no going back, so (pardon my mixing the metaphors) it's time to play the hand you were dealt.

We are here to help you, but we are not going to babysit your feelings.

Are you in therapy? It's something I recommend to almost everyone, especially when the emotional turmoil is very evident.

@cheryl baker , when requesting YOUR records, it helps to become a broken record. Years ago I needed copies of my medical records from my hospital. This was in the 80's, and it was VERY unpopular to question your surgeon. I took a friend with me who was born in Kentucky (I am in Michigan). She was a godsend, with her southern charm and lady-like ways. Even way back then, she said "bless your heart" and I KNEW in my mind she really meant "eff you, you nasty woman" when we finally got my copies of what they had done to me in writing.

Take a friend with you to these difficult appointments, if you do not already. I have even told a doctor to "please sit back down" when he got up and had his hand on the doorknob to leave. I had 3 questions written down, and he said "how long IS your list?" I asked back "does it matter?" and then I laughed. He sat back down, and before he got back up, he made a point to ask me "are we done?"

Don't you EVER forget: You employ THEM. Your doctor/surgeon is your employee. Either one of you can end the relationship at any time, for any reason. You can dismiss him, he can dismiss you. You hold the power.

Don't you EVER forget: You employ THEM. Your doctor/surgeon is your employee. Either one of you can end the relationship at any time, for any reason. You can dismiss him, he can dismiss you. You hold the power.

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THAT is a hard lesson to learn.

We are taught to respect the "power" that medical people hold in our lives. Many think there is nothing a doctor can do that is wrong...but as my dh is fond of remarking, what do they call the person who graduates LAST in their class at medical school...DOCTOR! It also helps to remember they are PRACTICING medicine...it's not a perfect science.

@southernlady , my husband, the dentist, uses that same joke. And I always say it's the practice of medicine because they haven't gotten it perfected yet.

I have learned that when a doctor cops an attitude, I do very well bringing my husband along next time. They don't dare pull that shite with him in the room. It used to make me angry, you know, male/female, chauvinism and all. But now I figure I can play those reindeer games by THEIR rules, and WIN.

@southernlady , my husband, the dentist, uses that same joke. And I always say it's the practice of medicine because they haven't gotten it perfected yet.

I have learned that when a doctor cops an attitude, I do very well bringing my husband along next time. They don't dare pull that shite with him in the room. It used to make me angry, you know, male/female, chauvinism and all. But now I figure I can play those reindeer games by THEIR rules, and WIN.

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LOL, I just did that THIS week...with my hema who happens to be FEMALE...she has an extremely annoying habit of calling women "my dear" and it's EVERY DAMNED SENTENCE. This last visit, he was there and she only did it once! BTW, she is rescheduling me for another round of infusions of a different kind since I seem to be SEVERELY allergic to the InFed.

LOL, I just did that THIS week...with my hema who happens to be FEMALE...she has an extremely annoying habit of calling women "my dear" and it's EVERY DAMNED SENTENCE. This last visit, he was there and she only did it once! BTW, she is rescheduling me for another round of infusions of a different kind since I seem to be SEVERELY allergic to the InFed.

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Plus imagine the "my dear" in the most stereotypical Boris and Natasha-esque accent ever

Ricardo Bonnor, couldn't do a whole DS as a virgin procedure! Got sleeve only supposedly because of adhesions due to ongoing gall bladder issues.

I don't KNOW this is true, just from a post on OH. I feel sorry for this woman!

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I have talked (on-line) to the person I believe you are talking about and she told me that she understands why Dr. Bonnor decided to only do a sleeve, granted she was disappointed, but understands.

Dr. Bonnor was my surgeon and he warned me about the 2 step, but I stressed that I want it in 1. I understand the precaution someone would have, I would have been angry if I came out with just a sleeve. Other than that I really liked my experience with Dr. Bonnor and his staff.

Diana....I'd like to give some information on this if you don't mind. Maybe it will help others.

(DISCLAIMER) I'm NOT trying to bad mouth my surgeon!

My surgeon is Hugh Houston in Nashville TN. I'm scheduled for March 12th. I found him on DSFacts and chose him because he does DS lap. He does advertise DS on his website. When I got to my initial appt he said he "wasn't really doing DS anymore because a lot of DSrs end up on someone's ER doorstep dead" (I did remind him that they advertise DS) From what I could gather he had a bad experience with a patient, but he wouldn't give details. He did push me to just do sleeve. After explaining that I'm an employee of the facility where he does surgery (I happen to know they are all about pt satisfaction and I brought that up), a senior nursing student (so I do have "some" knowledge about the medical field even if it is considered "novice"), and someone who only wants to pay for surgery ONCE....he said he would consider doing DS....IF....IF....IF....I went home and really researched/thought about it for the 90 days I had to wait for insurance. When I went for my final appt in January he had marked my file and insurance paperwork for VSG. Of course I pulled the reigns!!!! I did my research. I knew my information. I told him again that I was there for DS and if he didn't want to do it that was fine. Totally fine. I would be willing to go to Knoxville where they are doing DS. He made me teach him about DS. Literally we spent and hour and a half together. Me teaching him all I know. Him asking me questions. Me asking HIM questions. It felt like it went on forever. He finally said..."since you know about DS....you can have one". They had to redo all of my paperwork. When I did that and signed my consent I had them change my consent so that if can't DS me then I don't want anything. (DOCUMENTATION!!!!!) I think he's an excellent surgeon who may have had some noncompliant patients and he felt burned. This is understandable. Not everyone is a candidate for DS, but I know that I am. I had to really fight for what I wanted.

I'd also like to add that it takes a lot to stand up against the "norm" and an experienced doctor. I've had practice as I've had 2 of my 4 babies at home with a midwife.....on purpose. I certainly know how to advocate for myself and my body. If I don't, who else will? Right?!

Oh....and we did discuss specifics about the anatomy of DS. He made me explain it to him. He also asked me how long I wanted my common channel. He said it was up to me that whatever I was comfortable with he would be willing to do...within reason.

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Jordan,

Next to Wonder Woman, you are my new hero(ine)! You rock, Sister! As a homeschooling mom and military wife it seems we are always fighting someone for something, so it may as well be for ourselves on occasion!

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